Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrapin2212
Ironman, I do have one question.....is how do people there feel about the development in all those counties, including the suburban sprawl in Hagerstown (perhaps Prime Outlets taking business away from downtown Hagerstown which I haven't been to yet) or about all the hotels and chains and fast food going around the lake. I've always idealized the small-town life. I listen to country music all the time and watch CMT and GAC as an escape from my reality in Montgomery County. I've always been fascinated by small-town Middle America and considered it sad when chain stores and restaurants and subdivions replace Main Street, the drive in movie theater and the old diners. I long for that NOrman Rockwell America before I was born.
I've met a lot of people from Hagerstown and Frederick who hate the changes and really enjoy the small town life. (I've heard Walkersville described as the perfect place to live). But I've also met others from small towns over the state who like the new development because it gives them more options in terms of food, shopping, nightlife, etc. There are those who don't miss the old independence businesses and say they were actually inferior to the franchises. So from your perspective, do most western Marylanders look back on the good ol' days or do ya'll think development is a good thing?
Also, from your part of the state, do you consider Maryland a northern or a southern state? I personally like to think of Maryland as southern because at least IMHO southern is cooler and more pleasant things come to mind when I think South vs. North, esp. Northeast.
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Hmmmm.... Personally, I think it has its good points and bad. Its good points are that it does keep the prices lower on main street america. Their are things in oakland that I purchase in the speciality shops like certian clothes and medicine, even books. However; going to Walmart to go also has its good points because it carries alot of items the smaller stores would not carry. Development and expanding is
[SIZE=3]inevitable[/SIZE]. The problem as I see it is that Hagerstown and the rest down that way have been overdeveloped and local goverment is largely to blame. They are the ones that aproved all the building permits for all the buildings to be built. Up here we have a reverse problem. The commishiners will not aprove anything that they feel does not belong here. The main reason we have crappy paying jobs up here is because of them. There has been several business try to develop in Garrett County that where going to pay between 10.00 and 15.00 a hour (This is considered really good pay up here) but the commisioners told them no unless they dropped their pay. Most of them scrap their plans and build eleswhere. My mother owns a business in oakland and is a member of GOBA and usally tells me of the stupid crap the goes on at meetings.
I got off topic sorry
Anways, for entertainment we usally go to motown anyways.
And as for north vs. south, my wife considers it middle eastern, as for myself, my relatives where Union, so I tend to lean that way. lol
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02-13-2008, 11:06 PM
One of our basketball players, WIll Bowers I believe, came from Hancock, whether that's legimitately western MD I'm not sure. 
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